Lubricating apparatus



July 3 1926., F. c. BLANCHARD LUBRI CATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. '7, 1921 Int/6:136? E edenck (ZBZanoFaard Patented July 13, 1926.

- UNITED, STATES ,rnnnnmox oJBLAncHARn, or nn'rnorr, MICHIGAN.

LUBRICATING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 7, 1921. Serial No. 506,105.

This invention relates to the art of lubrication, it being more especially concerned with means for opening the closures of receptacles and introducing lubricant there- 6 into, and aims to avoid the inconvenience, loss of time, and other disadvantage which have hitherto characterized the use of devices of this class, while the invention is susceptible of general application, and has 10 more particular reference to the lubrication of various minor bearings of a motor car, 7 such as spring bolts and other parts which are usually provided with grease or oil cups. The invention will be best understood by 1 reference to the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of one illustrative embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central, longitudinal section, party in elevation, of a lubricating apparatus exemplifying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of the invention which is selected for exemplification, there is shown-a receptacle which may be of any suitable character, herein exemplified by a self-closing oil cup.4, provided with an inlet 6, normally closed by a cover 8. The latteropens in an outward direction against the yielding resistance afforded by a'suitable spring 10,

SI- whi'ch restores the closure to its normal position after being released.

The implement for opening the closure and introducing the lubricant will now be described, reference being had at first to so Fig. 1. A reservoir 12 is provided for the lubricant, preferably oil, which is conducted therefrom through a conduit 14 to a nozzle 16 having an outlet 18 through which the oil is discharged into the oil cup. The nozzle and the oil cup are provided with suitable cooperating means to guide the nozzle into place when the implement is handled from a remote point by grasping the reservoir 12 and to open the oil'cup by t appropriate mechanical action. In the present example, the nozzle is provided with a pair of jaws 20, adapted to'embrace the oil cup' and to prevent or limit rotation of the nozzle about its longitudinal axis, said jaws and cup having a laterally interengageable formation preventing displacement of said jaws toward the inlet of said cup, such parts being interengageable by a forward thrust of the implement in a direction transverse to the axis of the cup. This interengaging formation herein comprises a pan of grooves 22 formed in the inner faces of the jaws, and extending lengthwise of the appropriate means projecting laterally from the sides of the oil cup, the latter to this end being herein conveniently provided with a circumferential rib or head 24. Preferably, the entrances to the grooves are widened, as shown at the extreme left-hand part of Fig. 1, to facilitate ,the entrance of the bead thereinto.

The implement is provided with suitable means for lifting the cover of the receptacle, the jaws to thisend being herein provided with inclined surfaces 26 adapted to engage an abutment, herein a depending flange 28 formed on the cover. When, therefore, the jaws are moved forward into the position represented in Fig. 1, the cover is opened and tipped, and the outlet 18 is 'lorought into proper position to cause the delivery of oil into the receptacle. In the present example, the outlet 18 is in the form of a piece of tubing of small diameter, having a nipple 30 threaded into the body of the nozzle 16.

Preferably, the outlet of the implement is valve controlled, and in the embodiment shown has a spring-closed valve conveniently in the form of a ball 32 cooperating with a valve seat 34, against which the valve is normally seated by a spring 36. This valve 1s opened by the pressure of the oil, and

closed by thespring when the pressure 1s removed. Preferably, the valve seat is latter, said grooves beingadapted to receive formed as a part of a plug threaded axially into the body of the nozzle.

Preferably, the conduit 14 is rigid,that is to say,'laterally inflexible, so that by the use of one hand only, the nozzle may be applied to the oil cup. This makes it possible to use the implement in places where a two-hand operation would be diflicult or inconvenient. Moreover, the expulsion of the oil from the reservoir is preferably a one-hand operation, this being conveniently accomplished by making the reservoir in the form of a cylinder, in which there is mount ed a piston 38, suitably attached to the inner end of the conduit. When the implement is used for automobiles, its length will be such that the user may reach in from some point desirably remote from the oil receptacle, and introduce the lubricant, thereby avoiding contact of the hands or clothing with the dirty or oily parts of the machine. The piston is provided with a cup-leather packing 46, whose free edge is directed rearwardly and in contact with the internal surface of the cylinder, and it may be urged into contact therewith by a suitably arranged spring 42.

The cylinder 'is provided with suitable means to permit the introduction of a supply of oil thereinto, and to that end herein has a cover in the form of a cylinder head 44 provided with an annular flange 46 having screw-threaded engagement with the rear end of the cylinder. When the cover is screwed into place, a compressible packing ring or washer 48 prevents the escape of the oil in a rearward direction. It is intended that the piston shall be moved to the front end of the cylinder, and the space'at the rear of the piston then filled with oil by the removal of the cover, which is subsequently replaced.

In order to reduce to a minimum the amount of air at the rear of the piston, I preferably provide one or more suitable vents, herein holes 50 through the flange 46 just forward of the washer 48. The cover is provided with suitable means for displacin the air, and to that end is herein cupped inwardly as at'52 to whatever extent is necessary to ensure the expulsion of all the air in applying the cover. As the latter is being screwed into place, air trapped in the cylinder makes its escape through the vent holes, and finaily these are closed, when the end of the cylinder brings up against the washer. The cylinder is then tightly sealed.

The exclusion of air is important, because otherwise air and oil would come out together, and there would be a tendency to spray and spread the oil. The pressure of air would tend to cause some oil to be expelled after the pressure is released, thus 'wasting the oil and smearing things generally. When the air is excluded, the oil is delivered in a solid stream, and no oil will pass out of the nozzle after the pressure applied by the hand of the user ceases.

In this example, the relative movement of the piston and cylinder to cause the expulsion of the oil is effected by the use of a threaded engagement between the cylinder and conduit, the latter herein having a section 54 having screw-threaded engagement with a nut 56 conveniently formed as an integral part of a front cylinder head 58. This has the advantage of permitting pressure to be placed on the oil without lengthwise pressure on the implement, as well as the ability to measure the oil forced out by the degree of rotative movement of the cylinder.

To save space in storing the implement when the latter is in use, the conduit may be made telescopic, this being conveniently accomplished in the present example by pro- 7 viding a section 60 telescoped within the section 54 and axially slidable therein. Relative rotation of the two sections of the conduit may be prevented by suitable means, herein a splined connection comprising a key 62 carried by one section and received in a keyway 64 in the other. Preferably, the outer end of the latter terminates short of the outer end of the section 54, thus preventing the inner section from being withdrawn or forced in an outward direction by the pressure of the oil entirely out of the outer section. Leakage of oil at the joint between the two sections of the conduit may be prevented by the use of a suitable compressible packing ring 66 encircling the section 60 and interposed between the outer end of the section 54 and an annular flange 68 carried by a collar 70 having screw-threaded engagement with the section When, therefore, the collar is urged in the proper direction, the packing ring will be compressed and leakage of oil at this point is prevented.

The packing ring and its threaded collar fore, the conduit be extended to whatever degreeis necessary or desirable, it may be secured against accidental telescopic movement by simply rotating the collar 70 to cause the compressible ring 66 to grip the inner section of the conduit.

The general operation of the implement will now be described. The implement is first filled with oil in the manner hereinbefore described. The cylinder presents a handle which is grasped by one hand of the 1 user, who then applies the nozzle to the oil cup by causing the rim of the latter to enter the groove in the jaws. The continued forward thrust of the latter lifts and tips the cover, and finally the discharge orifice of the nozzle is brought into the proper position to cause the oil to be delivered into the cup as soon as pressure is applied to the oil in the reservoir. This is accomplished by simply turning the latter through the angu- 1 lar distance necessary to expel the desired amount of oil. has been introduced, the cessation of the pressure will cause the check valve in the nozzle to close, and the latter may then be withdrawn, thereby permitting the cover of the oil cup to close under the influence of its spring.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but without limiting'myself When the proper amount ceiver, means to secure said sections against relative rotative movement, and means operable by rotation of said reservoir relatively to said conduit to cause the discharge of lubricant from said conduit to said receiver.

" 2. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receiver, a filler comprising a telescopic conduit having a plurality of relatively extensible sections, means preventing rotation of the forward'section about its longitudinal axis relatively to said receiver, means to secure said sections against relative rotative and longitudinal move ment, and means operable by rotation of said reservoir relatively to said conduit to cause the discharge of lubricant frdm said conduit to said receiver.

3. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receiver having a cover, a filler comprising a telescopic conduit having a plurality of relatively extensible sections, means to prevent relative longitudinal and rotative movement of said sections, a reser; voir, means operable by longitudinal movement of said reservoir andconduit to open said cover and to cooperate with said receiver to prevent rotation of the forward section about its longitudinal axis relatively to said receiver, and means operable by r0- tation of said reservoir with relation to said conduit to cause thedischarge of lubricant from said reservoir through said conduit to said receiver.

4. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receiver having a cover, a filler comprising a telescopic conduit having a plurality of relatively extensible sections,

means presenting a splined connection between said sections to prevent their relative rotation, means to prevent relative longitudinal movement of said sections, a reservoir, means operable by longitudinal movement of said reservoir and conduit to open said cover and to cooperate with said receiver to prevent rotation of the forward section about its longitudinal axis relatively ito said receiver, and means operable by rotation of said reservoir with relation to said conduit to cause the dischargeof lubricant from said reservoir through said conduit to said receiver. V

,5. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a lubricant receptacle and a filling implement, the latter having ,jaws embracing the former, said jaws and said receptacle having a laterally interengageable formation preventing displacement of said jaws toward the inlet of said receptacle, the latter having a closure for said inlet, said implement having a closure displacing formation, and means for directing lubricant into said inlet when said closure is displaced.

6. In a lubricating apparatus,'the combination of a lubricant receptacle and a filling implement, the latter having jaws embracing the former, said jaws. and said receptacle being provided one with a recess and the other with a projection receivable there in preventing displacement of said jaws toward the inlet of said receptacle, the latter having a closure for said inlet, said implement having a closure displacing formation, and means for directing lubricant into said inlet when said closure is displaced.

7; In a lubricating apparatus, the "comblnation of a receiver comprisin a body presenting a filling opening, an a cover for said opening; a filler comprising means operable by movement lengthwise of an axis to open said cover and to limit rotation of said means about said axis, a cylinder having a piston therein, an externally threaded tube connecting said means to said piston and communicating with said cylinder rearwardly of said piston, and a nut threaded onto said tube and operated by rotation of saidcylinder about said axis to cause said piston to expel lubricant from said cylinder through said tube into said body.

8. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination'of a receiver comprising a body and a spring closed cover which opens outwardly longitudinally of said body; and a filler comprising a nozzle having means operable by movement len thwise of said nozzle and crosswise of said body to open said cover for the introduction of lubricant into said body and to limit rotation of said nozzle about its longitudinal axis with respect to said receiver, an externally threaded tube carrying said nozzle and held against rotation relatively thereto, a piston secured to the rear end of said tube, a cylinder prescnting rearwardly of said piston a lubricant reservoir communicating by way of said tube with said nozzle, and a nut carried by said cylinder and having screwthreaded engagement with the exterior of said tube whereby rotation of said cylinder relatively to said tube and nozzle expels lubricant therethrough and discharges thecylinder head presenting a nut, a piston working in said cylinder, an externally threaded tube threaded through said nut, attached to said piston and having a longitudinal passage communicating with said cylinder rearwardly of said piston, a second tube extending into and telescoping with said threaded tube and having a longitudinal passage communicating with the passage in said threaded tube, means for connecting said tubes together to prevent relative axial and rotative movement thereof, a nozzle carried by the forward end of said second tube and presenting a passage cominunicating with the passage in said second tube, and means operable by movement of said nozzle longitudinally of said tubes and transversely of said receiver to open said receiver for the reception of lubricant expelled from said reservoirs by rotation of said cylinder relatively to said piston, tubes and nozzle.

10. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receiver, and a filler comprising a cylinder presenting a nut, a piston in said cylinder having a hollow piston rod presenting a screw having screw-threaded engagement with said nut and affording a conduit from said cylinder to supply lubricant to said receiver, and means carried by said piston rod for attachment to said receiver to prevent rotation of said piston rod about its longitudinal axis.

11. In a lubricating apparatus, the com-- bination of a receiver, and a filler comprising a cylinder presenting a nut, a piston in said cylinder having a hollow piston rod presenting a screw having screw-threaded engagement with said nut and afiording a conduit from said cylinder to supply lubricant to said receiver, and a nozzle carried by said piston rod having means of attachment to said receiver.

12. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receiver having a valved inlet, and a filler comprising a cylinder presenting a nut, a piston in said cylinder having a hollow piston rod presenting a screw having screw-threaded engagement with said nut and afiording a conduit from said cylinder to supply lubricant to said receiver, and means carried by said piston for opening said valved inlet for the introduction of lubricant. 13. In a lubricating apparatus, the combination of a receiver, and a filler comprising a cylinder presenting a nut, and a piston in said cylinder having a hollow piston rod presenting a screw having screw-threaded engagement with said nut and affording a conduit for said cylinder to conduct lubricant therefrom to said receiver, said piston rod having means of attachment to said receiver.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK C. BLANCHARD. 

